Shoe-tip protector



Oct. 12 192a. 1,602,763

F. GETROST SHOE TIP PROTECTOR Filed 001: 24, 1923 BETTE a1 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHOE-TIP PROTECTOR.

Application filed October 24,1923, serial No. 670,560.

The present invention relates to shoe attachments and morev particularly to a protector for the tip or toe portion of a shoe.

An object of the present invention is to I provide a protectorv as a separate article for attachment to shoes for the protection of the tips of the shoes, andis especially adapted for application to childrens shoes while playing, particularly in winter when the children wear out the tips or the toes of boots and shoes in coasting and sledding, and which may also be attached to shoes of workmen of different classes such as coal diggers, street pavers, cement workers, for those working in stone quarries, for use when working with sand and gravel, for farmers when plowing, and for various other uses where the tips of shoes are subjected to abnormal wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protector which may be quickly and easily applied to shoes and retained thereon by a strap or the like to admit the quick detachment of the protector and which may be permanently attached to the sole of the shoe to prevent vibration or accidental removal of the protector under conditions where the device is subjected to considerable strain and pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tip protector of this character which is adjustable within practical limits to take care of inequalities in the width and rounding of the tip portion of the shoe andits' sole, and which will yieldingly bind over the sole and the tip of the shoe so as to offset vibration or loose play between the tip and the shoe.

As still further object of the invention is to provide a strap receiving portion which is peculiarly arranged upon theprotector to hold the strap from pressing downwardly upon the toe portion or upper of the shoe and at the same time to permit the drawing taut of the strap to an extent sufficient for holding the protector in place.

The above and various other objects and Fig. 2is abottom plan view of the same.

Fig; '3 is an enlarged inner end elevation of the protector, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention as applied to the tip of a shoe. 1

Referring to the drawing 10 designates a boot or shoe of any approved construction and to which the protector of the present invention may be applied.

The protector comprises a main body portion 11 of semi-dome like shape being of sufficient depth to extend to a point beyond the lower surface of the sole 12 of the shoe. For holding the tip protector 11 detachably in place, the crown of the main body portion 11 is pressed upwardly or offset to form an integral bulge 13 tapering upwardly and rearwardlyofthe main body portion and having a transverse slot 14: therein ,of a width adapted to receive therethrough a strap 15. The strap 15 is arranged to ex tend within the bulge 13 and to lie flush against the inner flat side of the bulge for 30 disposing the inner face of the strap 15v substantially flush with the inner'surface of the body 11. The strap 15 is thus offset out- Wardly a distance suflicient to prevent the strap 15 from bearing against the top of the shoe and from thus chafing the material of which the shoe is constructed or exerting a pressure inwardly upon the foot.

The bottom edge of the shell 11 is provided with a plurality of inturned tongues .16 forming a marginal flange at the bottom of the shell adapted to overlap the exposed face of the sole 12. These tongues 16 are preferably apertured as at 17 to receive screws, nails or the like for permanently attaching the tongues 16 to the sole and thus preventing the protector from slipping off of the shoe. These fastening devices are shown in Fig. 4 in the form of screws 18 but of course may be substituted by any other means found desirable to meet the conditions of use.

The strap 15 is adapted toextend about the boot or shoe'lO above the vamp as shown in Fig. 1 and has a means of adjustment in the form ofa' buckle 19 which permits the adjustment of the strap for drawing it taut and binding the protector upon the tip of the shoe;

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the shell 11 is rounded upon a larger radius than is the form shown in Fig. 2, and the lid tongues 20. are'also struck upon a larger radius. The modified form of shell may be expanded as shown at 21 in Fig. 4 to accommodate the shell orprotector to shoes 22 of various widths.

- It is apparent that the protector'may be applied to boots as well as shoes and may also be used upon Army shoes and all other types of footwear wherein the tips or toe portions are subjected to rough treatment.

hat is claimed is:

As an article of manufacture a shoe protector including a main body of semi-dome like shape having the crown portion pressed upwardly to provide a bulge tapering upwardly and rearwardly of the main body and provided with a slot, and said main body provided throughout the length of its lower edge with a plurality of inturned tongues.

FREDERICK GETROST. 

